Sen. Josh Hawley

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJRES 22) seeks to block a specific rule issued by the Department of Education regarding federal student loan modifications. It targets the rule titled "Waivers and Modifications of Federal Student Loans," which included a one-time debt relief program announced in October 2022. The resolution requests Congress disapprove the rule under the Congressional Review Act, preventing the Department from implementing it. If approved, the rule would have no legal effect, directly affecting how student loan borrowers could access modifications or debt relief under that specific policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits public colleges and universities from denying religious student groups access to campus facilities or official recognition that is available to other student organizations. It directly affects public institutions of higher education and religious student organizations by requiring equal treatment based on the institution's policies for non-religious groups. The key provision states that no federal funds can be withheld from an institution that denies a religious group access to facilities or recognition due to its religious beliefs, practices, speech, leadership standards, or conduct codes. The law applies to all public colleges receiving funds under the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Maddy summaryS 973 requires federal contractors to certify they have not used racial hiring quotas in the past five years and prohibits them from implementing such quotas during contract performance. It directly affects all entities awarded federal contracts or subcontracts, including employers covered under specific labor certificates. The bill mandates that contracts include an equal opportunity clause banning race-based hiring systems, while explicitly excluding environmental, social, and governance (ESG), diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives from the definition of "national interest." Violations could lead to contract cancellation, termination, or debarment by the Department of Labor.

Maddy summaryS 959, the Stopping Traffickers and Their Accomplices Act of 2023, requires abortion providers to notify the National Human Trafficking Hotline within 24 hours if they reasonably suspect a patient is a trafficking victim. It mandates annual human trafficking training for all staff at abortion facilities and requires providers to submit certification of training completion. Violations of the reporting or training requirements incur penalties of $10,000 per violation for failure to report or $1,000 per day for training non-compliance. The bill directly affects abortion providers and their employees, with state attorneys general authorized to enforce these requirements through civil actions.

Maddy summaryThe NIH Reform Act (S 960) reorganizes the National Institutes of Health by splitting the existing National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) into three new institutes: the National Institute of Allergic Diseases, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, and the National Institute of Immunologic Diseases. This directly affects NIH leadership and research operations, requiring new director appointments with 5-year terms (allowing one reappointment) and updating federal references to replace NIAID with the new institute names. The bill mandates a transition plan for NIH leadership to shift responsibilities from the old NIAID structure to the new institutes, without altering funding or creating new research programs. It focuses on administrative restructuring to better align research priorities with specific disease areas.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits U.S. federal agencies from using government funds to purchase solar panels made or assembled by entities linked to the Chinese government. It bans such purchases through contracts, grants, and government credit cards within 180 days of enactment, requiring agencies to follow new OMB guidelines. Agencies may request waivers if a Chinese-linked supplier is the only option, but must get approval from the State and Homeland Security Secretaries and report requests to Congress quarterly. The bill also mandates a study on domestic solar manufacturing capacity and a report tracking federal solar panel purchases from covered entities within 275 days. It directly affects federal procurement officers and solar panel suppliers with ties to China’s government.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to require the U.S. Supreme Court to have exactly nine justices. Currently, Congress sets the Court's size through legislation, but this amendment would make the nine-justice structure a permanent requirement in the Constitution. It would need ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures within seven years to become part of the Constitution. If adopted, it would prevent Congress from changing the Court's size via ordinary legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the U.S. Treasury to instruct American representatives at multilateral development banks (like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank) to oppose new loans to China. It is based on findings that China exceeded the income threshold for graduation from development assistance in 2016 and has since received over $20 billion in loans from these institutions. The bill requires annual reports tracking China's borrowing, U.S. voting efforts to end lending to countries that have surpassed graduation thresholds, and the status of China's eligibility. It directly affects China's access to multilateral development financing and the operational policies of these banks.

Maddy summaryThis bill would withdraw the U.S. "most-favored-nation" trade status (commonly called "normal trade relations") from China. After a two-year delay from enactment, Chinese goods would face higher tariffs based on the standard U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule rates, rather than the lower rates previously applied. The bill permanently blocks future restoration of this preferential trade status for China and allows the President to further increase tariffs on Chinese products. This directly affects Chinese exporters and U.S. importers of Chinese goods by raising their costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Director of National Intelligence to declassify specific information about the origin of COVID-19 within 90 days of enactment. It mandates the release of details including research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, activities involving the People’s Liberation Army, and medical records of researchers who fell ill in autumn 2019. The bill directs the Director to submit an unclassified report to Congress containing this information, with only minimal redactions for security reasons. It directly affects the Director of National Intelligence and the public by requiring transparency about potential links between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the pandemic’s origins. The legislation is procedural in nature, focusing on declassification rather than new policy measures.